Meeting the NGSS: Cyclic Patterns of the Earth-Sun-Moon System
COURSE DESCRIPTIONFor much of human history, lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons have caused fascination and wonderment. In this module, we will use modeling to describe these cyclic patterns of the Earth-Sun-Moon system.
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CONTENT
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KNOWLEDGE-SKILLS-MINDSET to be gained by participating:
Knowledge:
Skills:
Mindset: Teachers believe that models are central to what scientists do, both in exploring possible explanations for phenomena, as well as communicating their findings to others.
Knowledge:
- Patterns of the apparent motion of the sun, the moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, predicted, and explained with models. (DCI ESS1.A).
- This model of the solar system can explain eclipses of the sun and moon. Earth’s spin axis is fixed in direction over the short-term but tilted relative to its orbit around the sun. The seasons are a result of that tilt and are caused by the differential intensity of sunlight on different areas of Earth across the year (DCI ESS1.B).
- Strategies for developing, using, and revising models to describe, test, and predict more abstract phenomena and design systems.
Skills:
- Teachers will be able to identify the disciplinary core ideas (DCI), crosscutting concepts, and engineering practices that make up NGSS performance standard MS ESS1-1.
- Teachers will understand that there are many effective strategies to illustrate the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
- Teachers will be able to select and implement the best learning activity for their students which utilize modeling to explore the cyclic patterns of the Earth-Sun-Moon system.
Mindset: Teachers believe that models are central to what scientists do, both in exploring possible explanations for phenomena, as well as communicating their findings to others.